A FORMER office block in Layerthorpe is set to be converted into 57 emergency residential units to house the temporary homeless.

The scheme for James House in James Street, which has been approved by City of York planning committee members, will increase the number of units by five and consolidate housing that is scattered across the city.

In addition the largest emergency homeless accommodation in Ordnance Lane, off Fulford Road, is not fit for purpose.

James House will deliver 57 units on a single site which will allow the council to create much higher quality accommodation.

After the meeting the council's executive member for housing and safe communities, Cllr Sam Lisle, said: "I am very pleased that our ambitious plans for James House have been signed off by the planning committee.

"Much of the temporary homeless accommodation in York is no longer fit for purpose.

"By converting James House we have the opportunity to provide much higher quality accommodation and increase our overall provision for people who suddenly find themselves without a home.

"By consolidating our service onto a single site we will also have the opportunity to re-purpose buildings for resettlement purposes to help people who have been sleeping rough get back into stable accommodation."

James House will mainly used as temporary emergency accommodation for people who suddenly find themselves without a home.

There will be units to suit all sizes of vulnerable households with one, two and three-bedroom flats for families, couples and single people.

Staff will be present on site from 8am to 8pm and outside of these hours there will be two security personnel.

The meeting heard that residents would typically stay for a month and up to a year until a permanent solution is found.

A safe and enclosed courtyard will provide new amenity space,

including play equipment and landscaped garden for residents use. At the front of the building will be staff/resident car parking and secure cycle parking in a new brick building.

And three bat boxes must be installed under the direction of an ecologist as bats are present in the roof space, which is being converted into the dwellings.

Planning members voted unanimously in favour of granting full permission. Chairman Cllr Nigel Ayre said the conversion would be a great asset and benefit to all.

Rough sleepers are given support through the council's resettlement team, Changing Lives and the Salvation Army, and are given short-term accommodation at Arc Light, Peaseholme Centre, Howe Hill and Robinson Court before moving on to shared housing and ultimately independent living.